Velocipede



Jan. 11, 1944. F. M. MORGAN ETAL 2,338,730

VELOCIPEDE F iled July 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 11, 1944. MORGAN ETAL 2,338,730

' VELOGIPEDE Filed July 20, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 11, 1944 VELOCIPEDE [Frank M. Morgan, Glen Ellyn, and Lester C.

McKay, Chicago, 111., assignors to Sears, Roebuck and 00., Chicago, 111., a corporation of New York Application July 20, 1940, Serial No. 346,466

9 Claims.

This invention relates to vehicles and more particularly to velocipedes and is concerned with improved frame and brake construction making for more comfortable riding.

It is an object of our invention to provide a frame construction for a vehicle of the character referred to affording a yieldable connection between a load receiving member and an axle.

It is another object to provide an improved stand for supporting an extra rider.

A further object involves the provision of a brake operating mechanism substantially shielded from contact with the rider or riders.

It is also an object to provide an improved seat support.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds. The invention will be better understood upon reference to the following description and drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of a velocipede constructed in accordance with the principles of our invention, taken substantially as indicated by the line in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken as indicated by the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as indicated by the line 33 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing how the shock absorber spring may be mounted on the axle; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 5-5 and 6-6, respectively, in each of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated a velocipede on the fr frame of which may be supported a casing for a light, horn, etc., said casing having its sides curled downward and inward to provide rearwardly open sockets I 2 in which are welded as at l3 or otherwise suitably secured the forward ends M of a pair of backbones l of a frame indicated generally at Hi. The backbones are preferably arranged side by side and, preferably within the casing ID, are securely bridged by a strap l8 welded or otherwise suitably joined thereto as at IS. A sleeve 2| is welded as at 22 or otherwise integrally united to the web 23 of the bridge l8 and may have additional lateral support in a ring 25 welded as at 26 or otherwise suitably secured to the deck 21 of the casing Ill. The sleeve 2| has a threaded opening 30 which receives a set screw 3| passing through a side wall I I of the casing and having its head 32 outside the casing for ready manipulation. The sleeve 2| affords a socket in which the post or bracket 34 of a seat (not shown) is adapted to be adjustably received, the screw 3| serving by contact with the post 34 to maintain the seat at the desired height.

In accordance with our invention, the rear Wheels 40 are mounted on the stub ends 4| of an axle 42, which has adjacent inwardly disposed forwardly offset portions 43 and a central rearwardly offset portion 44. The forward portions 43 of the axle are rotatably secured to the underside 46 of a stand or toe plate 41 fo an extra passenger, as by suitably formed extensions 48 of a reinforcing plate 50 Welded as at 5| to the stand. A spring 53 is anchored at its lower end as to a thrust member 54 bearing at 55 on the rear oilset portion 44 of the axle, the upper end of the spring being engaged as at 58 with a rearward extension of an upwardly projecting bulge 59 on the stand 41. The spring is preferably normally under compression.

The reinforcing plate 50 has an upward bulge 60 which cooperates with the bulge 59 in providing sockets receiving the free rear ends 6| of the backbone members l5, the forward end of the bulge 60 being preferably arc-welded as at 62 to the ends 6|.

The Weight of the passenger on the stand 47 and/or the operator in the seat (not shown) depresses the entire stand and accordingly the forward portions 43 of the axle, about the axis of the wheel-supported axle ends 4|, and at the same time compresses the spring 53, which thereby provides a resilient comfortable support for the rider or riders, and in addition the backbones I5 are considerably relieved of stress.

Should the wheels 40, or either of them, enter a depression or strike a bump, the action above described will be momentarily accentuated; the mechanism operating as a shock absorber for the operator, passenger and frame.

Another feature of our invention is concerned with a brake. To this end we extend a rod 65 transversely of the vehicle adjacent the front of the stand 41 and rotatably support the rod as by hangers 66 attached to the stand. The ends 68 of the rod are offset outwardly beyond the supports 66 and are disposed in juxtaposition to the treads 69 of the wheels 40 so that, upon turning of the rod, its ends 68 may move toward and away from the treads, as will appear.

Welded as at II or otherwise suitably fixed to a central part of the rod 65 is a crank 12 whose free end 73 is connected as at 15 to an actuating member 16 which may be a stiff rod preferably extending along and between the backbone members H5. The rod 16 is connected at its forward end as at 17 to the free end 19 of a rock arm 80 pivoted as at ill to a bracket 82 welded as at 83 to the backbones It. A second rod 84 is connected as at 85 to the rock arm 80 and extends into the casing Ill, the forward end of the rod 84 being connected as at 85 to a crank 81 welded as at 88 or otherwise suitably fixed to an actuating spindle or arbor 88. The arbor is suitably fixed to and journaled in the casing IE3 and projects therefrom and carries a second crank 90 having a handle 9! within convenient reach of the seated rider.

The sleeve 93 for the steering spindle 94 passes through the casing It] and is split to provide a socket in which the forward ends 95 of the backbones terminate, the halves of the socket having flanges s6 welded together as at 97.

The casing if! is supported in place by the lower flange 9B of the steering post sleeve 83, and the seat post tube 25 and the backbone portion i i received in the casing sockets ii.

To stop or slow down the vehicle, the rider pulls up on the handle 9i, thereby swinging the crank El and pulling the rod 84, arm to, rod lii and crank 12 forward, thereby rotating the rod in a direction to swing its ends 68 into engagement with the wheel treads 653, whereby a braking pressure is applied. As is evident, a relatively short movement of the handle Ell is needed for this purpose, and when the pull is relaxed a suitable spring ltd anchored as at it: to the casing or an element connected thereto and also anchored to the crank 8? draws and yieldably holds the brake rod ends Bil free of the tire treads to prevent drag and rattling.

It is evident from the foregoing that we have provided a shock-absorbing, easy, comfortable riding pedal-operated vehicle such, for example, as a tricycle or velocipede, for an extra passenger as well as the seated rider, the vehicle being of extremely simple construction and trim appearance, affording a dependable and conveniently located brake together with storage for a light and/or horn, and a secure support for an ad justable seat.

The flanges at the sides and front of the rear platform are a safety feature as they prevent the youngster supported thereon from slipping and falling.

With the spring mounting for the rear a safe floating ride is made possible.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departin from the spirit of my invention, and, hence, w do not wish to be restricted to the specific form shown or uses mentioned, except to the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted as broadly as the stat of the art will permit.

We claim:

1. A velocipede comprising rear wheels and a front wheel, an axle for said rear wheels, said axle having a section offset from the axis of the wheels, an extra-passenger platform pivotally connected to said section, a frame connected to the front wheel and to said platform, a member rigid with said axle and having a portion disposed beyond the axis of the wheels in a direc tion opposite to the direction in which said section is offset, and a spring between said portion and said platform and yieldabl in response to the weight of a person on said platform to enhance the riding comfort of such person.

2. A foot-propelled vehicle comp-rising front and rear wheel means and means for supporting a seated rider between the front wheel means and the rear wheel means, an axle for said rear wheel means, an extra-passenger stand above said axle and supported by said wheel means in a position to support a passenger standing behind the seated rider, said stand having portions disposed forwardly and rearwardly beyond the axis of said rear wheel means, said forwardly disposed portion being pivotally connected to said axle, and resilient means yieldably spacing said rearwardly disposed portion from said axle.

3. A velocipede comprising a rear axle having wheel receiving end and intermediate portions offset forwardly and rearwardly relative to said ends, an extra-passenger toe plate pivotally mounted on one of said offset portions, and a spring spacing apart said plate and the other offset portion.

l. A velocipede comprising a rear axle having wheel receiving ends and intermediate portionsoffset forwardly and rearwardly relative to said ends, a toe plate pivotally mounted on said forwardly offset portion, a spring spacing apart said plate and the rearwardly offset portion, and a frame backbon connected to and extending in advance of said plate.

5. A velocipede comprising coaxial rear wheels, an axle connected to said wheels, said axle having intermediate portions forwardly and rearwardly offset relative to the axis of said wheels, a toe plate, a spring spacing, apart said toe plate and said rearwardly offset portion, a backbone, and toe plate reinforcing means cooperating with said plate in providing sockets in which said forwardly projecting portion and said backbone are secured, said plate and forwardly projecting portion being relatively rotatable.

6. A velocipede adapted to be pedaled by a seated rider and comprising rear wheels, a toe plate supported thereby in a position to support a standing passenger behind the seated rider, av

pair of backbones connected side b side to said plate, a brake bar journaled to said plate laterally beyond said backbones and having wheelengaging portions, a crank rigid with said bar and extending between said backbones, an actuating member connected to said crank and extending forwardly between said backbones,.and means operable upon said member by the seated rider for controlling said brake bar.

7. A vehicle of the class described, comprising a pair of backbones, a bridge secured to and extending over said backbones, a seat post re ceiving sleeve secured to and seated over and extending upward from said bridge, a casing adapted to support a headlight and enclosing said bridge and sleeveand the adjacent portions of said backbones, and means accessible from outside of the casing and passing through said casing and sleeve for securing'a seat post in different adjustments.

8. A vehicle of the class described, comprising extending from said brake mean forwardly into said. casing, and a bell-crank handle connected to said element within said casing and extending wheel-engaging portions, a crank rigid with said bar and extending between said backbones, an actuating member connected to said crank and extending forwardly between said backbones, and means operable upon said member by the seated rider for controlling said brake bar, said wheel- -engaging portions being disposed for engagement with said wheels notwithstanding yield of said plate.

FRANK M. MORGAN. LESTER. C. McKAY. 

